Beth Sarim, that's true, the WTS has told the "flock" not to question anything the WTS even it is not quite right, just obey and of course "wait on Jehovah." But if some jws are looking for answers (of course outside WTS publications or statements) they might find comments like this by googling. Yes, going to others in the congregation or asking for an answer from the elders would get you in trouble. "All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not." Watchtower 2013 Nov 15 p.20
Posts by blondie
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12
Weasel Word Phrase--The Bible Does Not Say...but
by blondie inthe bible does not say—the weasel word phrase that bugs me the most.
note that though the wts says this, it then proceeds to add :.
after jesus’ birth, why did joseph and mary remain in bethlehem instead of returning home to nazareth?.
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12
A new Tony Morris thread: Question
by XBEHERE ini am not trying to hijack the already well commented on thread on this subject .
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5068920948523008/breaking-news-anthony-morris-iii-no-longer-serving-on-governing-body.
however i do have a question: for pimo's, pimq's, and those who still go to meetings in person fairly regularly... is anyone still talking about this?
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blondie
I do remember that except for the brief statement in the KM about Ray Franz no longer being a member of the GB, nothing else was said in the publications. Many in my group speculated but they said the WTS had been very definite about taking steps to stop this, firm steps. Of course, it was just speculation and rumor. I didn't realize the real reason until I talked to Ray Franz himself and got the info from the source. If any jws, PIMOs, PIMQs, or POMOs are discussing they are as has been said "Keeping their cards close to their chest."
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TV report-May 3, 2023-The Pa. grand jury investigation into alleged cover-up of child sex abuse within Jehovah's Witnesses
by AndersonsInfo inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds3q289vwok.
the link is to the tv report - may 3, 2023. .
below is a transcript of the tv report.. a pennsylvania grand jury has recently brought child sexual abuse charges against nine men—all jehovah’s witnesses—in what some are calling the most extensive investigation into the group in history.
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blondie
Thanks, for keeping us up-to-date. I am anxiously waiting to see what happens next.
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45
Advice to reduce hours earn less and spend more time on the ministry
by ExBethelitenowPIMA inthe advice to reduce work and earn less to spend more time preaching has not aged well.. the cost of living crisis means many have more going out on necessities than they have coming in.. so many asked their employer to reduce their hours and refused promotion only to see their colleagues go up the ladder when they stayed lowly position with rubbish jobs thinking the end will be here soon.
next week midweek meeting is all about preparing for an economic crisis.. they say have a go bag and new advice for all jws to store food and water at home and grow a vegetable garden, i kid you not.
this is the new direction..
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blondie
ExBethelitenowPIMA Where did the info you posted above from the WTS. A talk and the "old service meeting or from a WT publication?
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45
Advice to reduce hours earn less and spend more time on the ministry
by ExBethelitenowPIMA inthe advice to reduce work and earn less to spend more time preaching has not aged well.. the cost of living crisis means many have more going out on necessities than they have coming in.. so many asked their employer to reduce their hours and refused promotion only to see their colleagues go up the ladder when they stayed lowly position with rubbish jobs thinking the end will be here soon.
next week midweek meeting is all about preparing for an economic crisis.. they say have a go bag and new advice for all jws to store food and water at home and grow a vegetable garden, i kid you not.
this is the new direction..
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blondie
This is from 2017 Awake about disasters: Disaster management organizations urge families to store and annually update emergency supplies. Of course, needs will vary according to your location and circumstances, so check with local emergency management services for recommendations that could be applied in your area.
In general it is recommended that you keep at least three gallons (11 L) of water per person and three days of nonperishable, ready-to-eat foods.
Also, some families have prepared “go bags” with such items as the following:b
Blankets, complete change of warm clothes, and sturdy shoes
Flashlight, radio (battery or windup), and spare batteries
First-aid kit and a whistle to signal for help
Eating utensils, can opener, pocket tool set, and waterproof matches
Dust masks, waterproof tape, and plastic sheeting for shelter
Toothbrushes, soap, towels, and toilet paper
Child-care supplies and special-needs items for seniors or the disabled
A waterproof container with needed medication, copies of prescriptions, and other important documents
List of emergency contacts and meeting places and a local map
Credit cards and cash
Extra set of house keys and car keys
Paper, pencils, books, and games for children
Bible
Have access to the phone numbers of friends, both near and far.
Make and rehearse an escape plan. Know the nearest exits in your building, as well as the emergency plan of your children’s school. Set up family meeting places—such as a school or a library—one nearby and another outside your neighborhood. Authorities recommend that you practice walking with your family to those meeting points.
The WTS also references this non-WT publication:https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/1-2-3-disaster-eduction
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Jesus wasn't ( isn't if inside org ) your mediator and blood of the covenant for 144000
by enoughisenough ini found this questions from readers: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1989609?fbclid=iwar0cbmrtiyrknsggtnizkwuwfxunlalws6vog87eke_c4marr_drps8nywk....it makes very plain that jesus is only the mediator for the 144000 and while jesus said at matt 26:28 that the new covenant is for forgiveness of sin, the article makes it plain that the new covenant is a legality between god and the 144000. i have some thoughts already on this and i have started a document with this article.
i would like appreciate any rebuttal thoughts you have on the article as well.
this is one thing i have woke up to...the jw will start with a scripture, and then wrap a lot of other scriptures into the article so the rank and file think what great bible scholars and that they aren't that studious and so they swallow the falsehoods hook, line, and sinker.
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blondie
This is a concept that many jws have missed completely. The WTS has a few ways it makes an uncomfortable teaching disappear 1) they bury it a place that is nowhere near material meant to be studied by the rank and file jw 2) They stopped mentioning it but did nothing to correct it...just let it fade away.
The length of a creative day...is an example.
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JWs Still Attending on Zoom
by XBEHERE inanother topic based on a conversation with a friend living near warwick (i talked to him over the weekend).
he said that cong's in and around bethel, including his, are slowly starting to see an uptick with people attending in person his cong is pretty much 75%+ in person.
however there are many that still use zoom as a fall back.
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blondie
I am surprised; when I was out there, too many "Bethelites" thought they were privileged and did not have to adhere to the suggestions (rules).
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Weasel Word Phrase--The Bible Does Not Say...but
by blondie inthe bible does not say—the weasel word phrase that bugs me the most.
note that though the wts says this, it then proceeds to add :.
after jesus’ birth, why did joseph and mary remain in bethlehem instead of returning home to nazareth?.
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blondie
THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY—The weasel word phrase that bugs me the most. Note that though the WTS says this, it then proceeds to add :
After Jesus’ birth, why did Joseph and Mary remain in Bethlehem instead of returning home to Nazareth?
The Bible does not say. But it does reveal interesting details that may have affected their choice.
The Bible does not say, but here are some possible ways.
The Bible does not say. But it does reveal interesting details that may have affected their choice.
he Bible does not say why he left, but the apostle Paul evidently viewed Mark’s action as irresponsible.
But why did the holy spirit specifically direct that Barnabas and Saul be “set aside . . . for the work”? (Acts 13:2) The Bible does not say. We do know that the holy spirit directed the choosing of these men.
The Bible does not say how long it took Noah to build the ark, but it seems that he spent several decades building it.
Did Timothy become a notable speaker or an outstanding teacher? The Bible does not say. But no doubt
How many thousands had become believers? The Bible does not say, but even by the end of the first century, the number of believers must have been far fewer than 144,000.
The Bible does not say, but we have good reason to believe that the Devil would have been delighted to render Sarah unfit to bear the promised offspring.
Marking the final part of the last days will be the period that Jesus called the “great tribulation.” The Bible does not say how long that period will be, but
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WEASEL WORDS--WHAT ARE THEY--HOW THE WTS USES
by blondie in"a number of techniques employed to mislead others fall under the category of weasel words, and this article quotes examples that are regularly found in watchtower publications.. weasel words are defined as:.
“words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading,”[1].
intended “to avoid answering a question clearly or to make someone believe something that is not true."[2].
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blondie
All good points. I was looking back at some other tricks the WTS uses in Article 1, January 2023, the WTS quotes a source and does not credit, it is ambiguous. Usually it can be found by googling the quote. “There is no hint of falseness or chance of failure in anything God has said. God’s people can trust what he says because they trust the God who has said it.” Googling brings up Daniel Estes. His credentials, but why is the WTS quote a non-jw? https://www.cedarville.edu/academic-schools-and-departments/biblical-and-theological-studies/faculty-staff/estes-daniel
Weasel word Undoubtedly: Undoubtedly, it was Jehovah who made sure that his message to mankind would be accurately preserved. (same article)
It you still go to the meetings and it is painful, like it was for me, I started looking for weasel words and circling them, quotes by the WTS that did not attribute the source. It helped me look more closely at the article. One thing I like to point out to jws on the cusp or even POMI ex-jws, can they show me where the bible mentions the "governing body." And many confidently to Acts 15:2 but the phrase is not there. Or how the WTS when mentioning governing body in association with that scripture, there are no quotes around that phrase, because it is not in the scripture so cannot be a quote. It is amazing I read the scripture and heard it said from the platform and in people's comments, and that never dawned on me. I showed it to a friend, an inactive jw, and they were stunned. Looked at it over and over, the constant associating that scripture with the phrase "governing body" was assumed, many not even looking it up. Seeing the weasel words, is a signal that the WTS is going to say something that is not even in their bible. I don't read the magazines any more but this may open the eyes who are wondering why it is so hard for them to "believe" any more.
The phrase I like using the most is "it is reasonable to conclude" which means you are not "reasonable" it you don't come to the same conclusion the WTS does. I do a search with the phrase in quotes and am amazed how often the WTS uses this tactic.
Oh, let me add my second phrase, "the Bible does not say" and notices how much more the WTS adds that they admitted has no scriptural support.
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WEASEL WORDS--WHAT ARE THEY--HOW THE WTS USES
by blondie in"a number of techniques employed to mislead others fall under the category of weasel words, and this article quotes examples that are regularly found in watchtower publications.. weasel words are defined as:.
“words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading,”[1].
intended “to avoid answering a question clearly or to make someone believe something that is not true."[2].
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blondie
"A number of techniques employed to mislead others fall under the category of weasel words, and this article quotes examples that are regularly found in Watchtower publications.
Weasel words are defined as:
- “words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading,”[1]
- intended “to avoid answering a question clearly or to make someone believe something that is not true."[2]
I was checking jwfacts.com for any new articles and I saw this one. Here is the whole article but you can uses this link: https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/weasel-words.php